At Penn, Jodi Miller, C’14, GED’15, majored in biological basis of behavior—fascinated by stress and how it impedes success. After earning a master’s degree in education policy and secondary education at GSE, Miller got a real-life lesson in public education as a teacher in the School District of Philadelphia. Today, she is based in Baltimore, working on WellCheq, her web-based app designed to measure and track student well-being, and as a third-year PhD student studying stress and achievement at the Johns Hopkins University School of Education.
How has being a Penn alumna shaped your career?
Penn opened so many doors for me. I was surrounded by people who were fearless. That made me want to be similarly bold. I was inspired to see others reaching for things because they thought their ideas would make the world a better place. The connections I made with my professors have also proven to be lasting; I’ve had virtual lunches with Penn professors throughout the pandemic! My Penn classmates and professors were sounding boards and believed in me, even when I didn’t believe in myself. That is hard to find, and I’m so grateful.
How are you innovating and inspiring change in science?
Our education system is ripe for a good shake up. The idea for WellCheq came during a monthly coffee chat with another Penn graduate, Dylan Petro, C’14, GEN’15. We were thinking about what the system needed, something small that would improve student or teacher experiences. As a former teacher in a public Philadelphia high school, I saw how better teacher-student relationships led to improved achievement. WellCheq is a daily check-in app for students that allows teachers to learn who may need additional support through a digital dashboard. Right now, the free program is being used by 13 schools and over 1,100 students across the country. I hope to expand our pilots to see if WellCheq proves to be a net positive for educators, and students. We are doing research to understand if this makes a sizeable difference for students and teachers.
What characteristics or people have helped in your success?
Fearless people in pursuit of their dreams inspire me, like my Penn classmates. Penn grads are bold and, in turn, they challenge me to believe in what can be. It can be scary to take risks, and even tougher to do it alone. I seek out individuals who support me and my vision, and those people are invaluable. Throughout this process, I have become increasingly resilient and determined to create the best tool for teachers and students.
Did you receive mentorship at Penn?
Yes! I reached out to so many Penn alumni while developing WellCheq, and they have been generous with their time and advice. The willingness that the Penn community demonstrates to support one another is impressive. As a student, I was involved in Class Board and developed many relationships through that family. Now, I’m on the Penn Alumni Board and hope to remain connected that way.
